Last year at the Birkebeinerennet, Sandra Schützová suffered a knee ligament injury in one of the fast descents after hitting a discarded sports gel wrapper. She had to adjust her training over the summer, but a silver lining was her recruitment into a Norwegian team. Now, she has returned to the start of this challenging race, feeling strong after her health struggles, and secured a solid 14th place. The following weekend, she equaled her career-best result with an 8th-place finish at Marcialonga Bodø.

Interview with Sandra Schützová

How did it feel to return to the scene of last season’s injury at the Birkebeinerennet?
I had mixed feelings. Of course, I was excited for the race, but I was also nervous because you reach such high speeds in the descents. Fortunately, I had already been here after the Jizerská 50 and visited the spot where I fell a few times. I have to admit that during my first training session, I wasn’t even sure exactly where it happened. But I made sure to ski that descent a few times in training.

Did you think about your injury during this year’s Birken?
I tried not to, but of course, I couldn’t completely avoid it. Since I had already skied that descent in training, I was a bit more at ease. But during the race, as I approached that section, my heart rate definitely went up, and I felt some fear.

How did your injury and subsequent surgery impact your season?
Honestly, I don’t think my injury affected my results. In fact, I felt much better during training because I focused on different aspects of my preparation. However, my results haven’t been what I had hoped for. The main reason was the illness I had in November and December—it lasted an exhausting five weeks. Then, racing and training at high altitude took a huge toll on my body. Things were supposed to improve after returning, but I had issues with my thyroid medication, which extended my health struggles. It wasn’t until Birken that I finally felt better, and the week before the race, I did my first interval training since November.

New Team, New Challenges

How do you like being part of the Norwegian team Kaffebryggeriet Driv?
I love it! Of course, I was a bit nervous because everything was new and different, but I haven’t regretted my decision for a second. On the contrary, I’m really happy I took this step. Everyone is great, and I’m genuinely happy here. I’m even toying with the idea of moving here because back home, I have to train a lot on my own, whereas here, I have training partners.

What are the biggest differences between your previous team and your current one?
The biggest difference is that all communication is in English, which can be a challenge at times. But I’m also grateful for the opportunity to improve my English skills.

Read More: Ski Testing: How, Where, and When (Part 1)

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